The recently-unveiled 2016 Lexus GS F was finally launched at the 2015 edition of the North American International Auto Show, with Lexus->ke47 giving it a reveal worthy of a super sports car.->ke506 Following in the footsteps of the IS F compact sedan and the 2015 RC F coupe, the all-new Lexus GS F sedan comes with every intention of battling established performance sedans like the BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG and the Cadillac CTS-V. Unfortunately, there is a rather long road between intention and actual delivery, as the new Lexus is down in both power and performance compared to any one of its competitors.

The GS F is powered by the exact same engine as the RC F coupe and based on the midsize GS sedan. Its 5.0-liter, naturally aspirated, high-revving V-8 delivers 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque, both figures being obviously put to shame by any of its turbocharged or supercharged rivals. Paired with a sport-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission, the new Lexus GS F can hit 60 mph from a standing start in a yet-to-be-disclosed amount of time, but my money is on around 4.6 seconds considering the not-exactly-extraordinary power-to-weight ratio.

As far as the styling goes, probably no one will ever call it understated, as the F Sport bodykit is extreme from just about every angle, with the car looking like it wants to prey on small Toyotas.->ke88 "The styling philosophy of the GS F is one of form following function. For example, the GS F’s spindle grille was born to further enhance the car’s aerodynamics and cooling, while the air outlets in the front fenders, first applied in the IS F and then the RC F, have been adopted in the GS F because of its efficiency. The styling direction of the GS F is one that promotes Lexus’ commitment to ‘Progressive Luxury,’ and I feel this car conveys that brand message flawlessly." said Yoshiharu Nakajima, project chief designer, Lexus Design Division. I can't but agree with most of that.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Lexus GS F.

Why it matters

Since this is Lexus' first foray into this segment, some of the obvious drawbacks of the GS F can be left aside by most people, especially since it has a number of unique advanteges as well. The most important bit is probably the engine, which as of 2015 is the only mass-produced, naturally-aspirated V-8 that is powering a performance car, and that says a lot about Lexus'/Toyota's gonads.

Second of all, neither one of its German or American competitors is as light as the GS F, with the Lexus weighing almost as much as the much smaller RC F. Sure, even with these two advantages every one of its rivals will run circles around it on probably every track, but keep in mind this is a first try for Lexus. We'll see how the GS F improves for its next generation, because the current one is not yet up to the task of bringing down the heat.

Lexus GS F